snakes in the yard

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I've lived in Somerville for years and this is the first time I've encountered snakes in my yard. They are Brown Snakes, according to my internet research. Is anyone else in the area entertaining slithery visitors? How might I encourage them to move on?

Comments

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I see them about this time many years, although not this year, at least not yet. I never see them later in the year, so if they bother you, just wait a bit and they'll be either gone or well hidden in a little while.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

I've encountered a few, but they generally don't hang out in my yard, or not for long.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

How might I encourage them to move on?

Borrow a predator. What eats snakes? Whatever it is, I guarantee someone in Somerville keeps one as a pet.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

find out why they are there. often the answer is: food or shelter. the food choice often means lots of tasty rodents. lose the food, the snakes leave (on a plane).

also: it might be illegal to damage them. check your local laws.

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[greenlily.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, I had meant that the borrowed predator ought to scare the snakes, not actually eat them.

I don't endorse the unfettered damaging of snakes; my college roommate had one as a pet (not the kind pictured in this post) and I quite liked her. The snake, not the roommate. Well, the roommate too. Never mind.

[squirrelitude]

Holy cow, I had no idea that copperheads and timber rattlers were so exceedingly rare in MA. (And protected.)

[redknot.livejournal.com]

In this case, it's slugs and snails. Brownsnakes are really, really tiny.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

Wild turkeys occasionally eat snakes. There's been one hanging out in my neighbourhood the last several days. Maybe it will pay you a visit?

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes. Send the wild turkey. Last year "Fred" the turkey (check Facebook page under "Somerville Turkey") loved to hang out in my yard. Explains why last year I didn't see any snakes!

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

If they're not venomous, why not let them be? Maybe they're helping to protect your home from rodents!

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't want to hurt them but I sure wouldn't mind if they slithered their little selves into the neighbor's yard (the one who's mean to me). The first snakey was cute and I watched him/her for quite a while, but another that I startled coiled and tried to bite me! After a half-dozen sightings within a day, I'm ready to see them go. They're starting to freak me out. Must clean up the leaves/rocks where they like to hang out - except I fear uncovering a nest. Oh eek.

[squirrelitude]

I would just let them fill up on slugs and worms and whatnot, then move on as spring progresses. I'd be worried about them getting underfoot, but I don't know if they're even big enough to bite you.

[redknot.livejournal.com]

That's surprising - I've never had a brownsnake try to bite me! Are you sure it wasn't a little garter? Either way, the bite is all bluff. Brownsnakes have tiny, almost useless teeth.

You won't find a 'nest', because they winter underground, but you might find a spot where they like to hang out, hide and keep warm.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

They could also be baby rat snakes, which do form large nests. They are also very harmless and usually amazingly docile. I don't know if black racers can ever be brown (maybe when babies?) but they are feisty little fellows.

It probably is a brown snake, and the best way to get them to move on would be to remove all dead vegetation from your yard. Most small snakes live primarily off of slugs and worms.

That said, I wouldn't mind coming over and catching a few to see if they'll take up residence in my back yard :)

[redknot.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that about baby rats!

Good point about the baby racers. OP, did your feisty snake look like this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40723658@N05/4839144654/in/set-72157621801618068/)? Baby black racers look very different from the adults (which are solid black). I'm getting very jealous of your backyard!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

OMG I want that baby snake.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I am basing my entire knowledge of rat snake nests on finding a rat snake nest when I was 12. There were about 15, all just under a foot long (according to wikipedia that's how big the hatchlings are), and generally pretty docile.

The "mom" was over 6' long and also "friendly" (in that, when I picked her up, she just kinda chilled out). We moved them all to the woods near an orchard, and they never came back though we'd still commonly see rat snakes sunning themselves in the orchard.

I tried to catch a racer once when I was like 8, the thing started chasing me :P

[redknot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, rat snakes are so docile, in my experience. Come to think of it, the babies are also brownish.

Racers are... spirited. I admire the way they go absolutely nuts in self-defense, even though they have no venom and are pretty much snacks for everybody.

[redknot.livejournal.com]

(Also, cute snake story! :D )

[yagagriswold.livejournal.com]

Oh, please send them over to Ball Square. We have some rats that need to get et.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I could come over and put a tiny, snake-height sign directing them to my place.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

May 10th is Whacking Day! Let's drive those slithery bastards into the square. That should solve all your problems. :)

[redknot.livejournal.com]

Don't make them leave!!

DeKay's Brownsnakes are wonderful little critters. This is because:

1. They eat slugs, snails and other garden predators.
2. They're completely harmless and gentle, making them good 'ambassadors' to teach kids about snakes.
3. They're really tiny, and they never get big. Think of them as compact urban snakes ;)

Snakes tend to be faithful to their wintering spots, so moving them can be disorienting. Best to just sit back and enjoy the destruction of your local slug population.

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

If they indeed stay tiny, I can live with their presence. After one tried to bite me, I had visions of its big ol' mama (I was assuming it had one) eating me for lunch.

[redknot.livejournal.com]

I'm still baffled by the biting, which makes me think that the above poster is right and they're baby black racers. Adult black racers are definitely bigger than brownsnakes, but they're also speedy and non-venomous.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I've seen the occasional snake in my back yard, but they don't bother me. I figure they're probably helping keep down the rodent population, which to me is a good thing.

However, if you do want something done about it, I would highly recommend calling Animal Control, or the Animal Rescue League of Boston, rather than trying to do anything yourself.

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I did in fact email Animal Control at the same time I posted on LJ. Results: nada. No answer. No nuthin'.